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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 006935 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR IO/UNP/PAUL WICKBERG, EAP/MLS/AARON COPE, EAP/CM 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2027 
TAGS: PREL PHUM CH BM SN
SUBJECT: CHINA AND SINGAPORE SUPPORT AN "INCLUSIVE 
PROCESS"; ASEM DIALOGUE REVEALS COMMON GROUND ON BURMA 
 
REF: BEIJING 6895 
 
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson, Reasons 1.4 
 (b/d). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary:  Singapore and China expressed support for a 
more inclusive national reconciliation process in Burma 
during the October 26 visit of Singapore FM George Yeo to 
China, though neither Yeo nor Chinese FM Yang Jiechi 
articulated the elements of that process, according to MFA 
Asia Department Burma Division Deputy Director Liang Jianjun 
and a Singapore Embassy contact.  Both governments will 
continue to support UN Special Envoy Gambari's "good offices" 
mission to Burma.  Separately, the ASEM Senior Officials' 
Meeting (SOM) discussion on Burma reportedly revealed common 
ground rather than division between the EU and ASEAN.  End 
summary. 
 
¶2. (C) MFA Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam Division Deputy 
Director Liang Jianjun and an Embassy of Singapore contact 
November 1 separately discussed with poloff the October 26 
visit to China of Singapore FM George Yeo.  As part of his 
visit to India, Japan and China, FM Yeo met with Chinese FM 
Yang Jiechi to secure support for ASEAN efforts on Burma. 
Both Deputy Director Liang and our Singapore Embassy contact 
confirmed that beyond seeking out China's views on the 
situation in Burma, FM Yeo made no specific requests to China. 
 
Avoid another Iraq 
------------------ 
 
¶3. (C) Deputy Director Liang said FM Yeo, expressing concerns 
about Burma both "as a neighbor and as chair of ASEAN," 
described Burma as "a very difficult country" with religious 
and ethnic problems that could only be resolved through a 
national reconciliation process.  Liang said FM Yeo stated 
that the people of Myanmar do not want to become "another 
Iraq" and that the military must be included in any national 
reconciliation process. 
 
¶4. (C) FM Yeo observed that Singapore originally did not want 
to accept Burma into ASEAN, but agreed only under pressure 
from other members.  After the recent turmoil, "some members" 
want to expel Burma from ASEAN, but in this instance, 
Singapore believes that Burma is "part of the ASEAN family" 
and "has to face the reality" of the situation within the 
context of ASEAN. 
 
¶5. (C) According to Liang, both sides affirmed support for 
the UN Special Envoy Gambari's "good offices" mission in 
Burma and agreed that sanctions are not helpful.  FM Yeo 
observed that Burma is intent on cooperating with the UN 
rather than ASEAN, highlighting Gambari's success in gaining 
the confidence of both the Burmese military leadership and 
Aung San Suu Kyi, while previous ASEAN envoys have made 
little progress with the regime. 
 
National reconciliation important, but undefined 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶6. (C) Both sides reportedly affirmed the need for a more 
inclusive national reconciliation process, though the 
elements of that process were not specified.  When asked, 
Liang commented that the process was "very complicated" and 
included both the regime's "imperfect" seven-step "roadmap" 
to democracy and additional initiatives with ethnic groups. 
Our Singapore Embassy contact admitted uncertainty over 
exactly what was meant by "a more inclusive national 
reconciliation process."  (Note:  Asked about MFA 
International Organizations Department UN Division Deputy 
Director Sun Xiaobo's statements of October 30 that China 
hopes Burma can "speed up the democratic process" (reftel), 
Liang stated that China hopes Burma can "speed up the 
national reconciliation process" rather than the "democratic" 
process.) 
 
Upcoming Summits and Burma 
-------------------------- 
 
¶7. (C) FM Yeo told the Chinese that Burma may be discussed at 
the East Asia Summit November 21, or at least ASEAN will meet 
to exchange views on the way forward.  Liang said FM Yeo 
confirmed that newly-appointed Burmese Prime Minister Thein 
Sein will attend the ASEAN summit and that ASEAN should seek 
channels to provide humanitarian assistance to Burma.  Liang 
said the Chinese encouraged ASEAN to play "a more positive 
 
BEIJING 00006935  002 OF 002 
 
 
and constructive role" in resolving the Burma issue.  Liang 
commented that currently ASEAN can only agree that sanctions 
are inappropriate but that the group has been unable to 
formulate positive measures to address the situation. 
According to Liang, speculative discussions of troika 
dialogues, core groups and similar mechanisms highlight the 
lack of unity in ASEAN. 
 
ASEM SOM produces EU-ASEAN consensus on Burma 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶8. (C) EU China Mission Counselor for Political Affairs 
Alexander McLachlan (strictly protect) November 1 told us 
ASEM participant representatives discussed Burma (also 
present) at the October 29-30 ASEM Senior Officials Meeting 
(SOM) in Guilin, China.  Building on the October 2 UN Human 
Rights Council resolution on Burma, EU officials plan to 
pursue measures in the Third Committee of UNGA to guarantee 
unfettered access for the Red Cross (ICRC) in Burma, a full 
cessation of hostilities with anti-government ethnic groups 
and an inclusive national reconciliation process.  McLachlan 
commented that unlike previous SOMs, where the EU and ASEAN 
would divide into opposing camps over Burma, Singapore, as 
ASEAN chair, supported the direction of the EU measures, 
except for the imposition of sanctions.  For its part, China, 
as chair of the meeting, did not comment on Burma, but 
neither did it move to limit discussion. 
 
¶9. (C) McLachlan echoed the above assessment that beyond 
opposing sanctions, ASEAN has no common vision for movement 
on Burma.  McLachlan, too, noted ASEAN's lack of specifics 
for the "inclusive national reconciliation process," but 
commented that at least this reveals ASEAN does not consider 
the regime's seven-step "roadmap" the sole way forward. 
Randt